Alpha Gal Allergies

I have had this allergie for about 10 years now, finally have a name for it. All the research I have done says a total avoidance diet is the best we can hope for. The allergy came from the white spot tick. I am still able to do dairy, but no mammal meat of any kind. Note from my experience, some meds will cause a reaction. Have you had any anaphylatic reactions? What I have read, our allergy can worsen over time. Avoiding ticks and avoiding mammal products seems to be the only safe route. Look up Dr.Scott Cummins at the University of Virginia, there is a forum just for our "Delayed Food Allergy" lots of information.

Have you tried Turkey bacon? It's a good subsitute to pork bacon.

Hi "gals" and welcome to the forum!  Interesting allergy.

1. Does everyone with this allergy get anaphylactic symptoms, or is there a less severe "intolerance" reaction in some people?

2. Is there always a tick involved, or is it possible to have this without it, or maybe just not knowing there was a tick bite?

Since my most recent round of major surgeries - 3 in early June - I have developed an intolerance to beef.  2 bites is guaranteed to cause me severe nausea and ill feeling, but not anaphylaxis.  I can't eat pork already because of sulfite intolerance.  There is sulfite in beef also, so I may be just getting more sensitive (which is possible) and picking that up.

You might try lactose-free milk if you are having trouble with milk and cheese, just to see if it's the milk sugar also.  Lactose is a galactose plus a glucose.  Alpha-gal is 2 galactoses.

Alcie said...
Hi "gals" and welcome to the forum! Interesting allergy.


1. Does everyone with this allergy get anaphylactic symptoms, or is there a less severe "intolerance" reaction in some people?



2. Is there always a tick involved, or is it possible to have this without it, or maybe just not knowing there was a tick bite



You might try lactose-free milk if you are having trouble with milk and cheese, just to see if it's the milk sugar also. Lactose is a galactose plus a glucose. Alpha-gal is 2 galactoses.

Please note there is a DIFFERENCE between intolerance and allergic reactions. In my medical training it has been declared the following is Allergic Reactions: Anaphylactic symptoms such as swelling of airway, Hives, Itchy Rash
Intolerance: Stomach discomforts, Bowel Issues, Cramps, Upset Stomach, Gas, So On, Bloating
Allergic Reactions: Needs Medical Treatment (Medications, OTC medications, Pharmacist, Doctor)
Intolerance's: Unfortunately, just dealing with it


my ears get real hot and red - allergic to something attacking the ears

As far as anaphylatic, I have never had to use MY epie pen I have alway's been able to get to the ER - If your airway is closing you are having a SEVERE allergic reaction and use your epi then go to the ER. Why gamble with your life? I did that once with my asthma, and found out if I had came in 30 minutes later I would of died because of how severe my lack of oxygen was. Here's a kicker - I am a Respite Caregiver - yea, I have medical training. I went in to the ER, because my inhaler was not being responsive, and by the time I got there I was repeatedly losing consciousness for brief periods. I knew I was going to go unconscious again, and it wasn't going to be good when I got into the ER. I looked frantically around as no one was at the reception desk, a guy in scrubs walked past me, but saw my frantic behaviour and asked if I needed help. I couldn't speak, as you can't in an asthmatic attack, so I handed him my inhaler because I medically knew there are only two diseases for the medication and treatment is the same. I went unconscious immediately after handing the guy my inhaler. Next I knew I was in a whealchair wearing oxygen, having a full vital work up waking to smelling salts. Still in the waiting room, as you never move a critical patient til they are stabilized. When I stabilized they whisked me around the corner, into the critical wing. Respiratory team was already there for me, and because of my training I knew where they come from - it takes 5 minutes. That is long enough for brain damage to set in, and it did. After finding out I was barely saved I decided to take my asthma seriously and take control of it. I don't want to die whilst being an idiot. I have brain damage because of my idiotic ways, I now need extra oxygen than what is normal during asthmatic attacks, when I am ill, and I can no longer run. I can't get to my patient in time if they code on me to do cpr... I have to walk so I don't set into an instant attack. I have to make sure I stay within feet of them now so I can do my job if anything goes wrong. Now after you hearing my story, what is it your going to do? Continue to not listen to your body? Risk your life? Whatever it is, please do not be totally moronic as I was. It was pretty stupid of me, and now I suffer for a lifetime.

bad ugga's - intolerance

my whole skin on all of my body was one large hive - allergic reaction

You might be able to read the very short abstract at:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/d254n6245765q0ug/

I read the longer version on Medscape, but you can't get there without a password.

I was wondering if any one was having the feeling of chest crushing indigestion feeling when the are having a reaction?

I was just diagnosed at the beginning of August, but I new that I had the allergy because this was a discussion in my family, my father has been allergic to red meat for about 2 to 3 years & my mom had seen the article on the news & told me about it. I had got my first tick in years in May and had my first reaction after eating a cheap burger from Mcdonald 's. Then about 3 weeks later it was after a cheap burger from Burger King. During this whole time I was eating steak & tacos & not reacting. I went to my allergist requesting to be tested because I had also reacted to all beef hot dogs. Since then I found that I can eat ham, bacon. & sausage but not pork ribs & pork tenderloin. Just last night I decided to try a steak since I was diagnosed w/ alpha -gal allergy. I had my worse reaction.

My reaction starts with itching on the back of my neck and then turns into hives from head to foot. The last 2 times I also have had this almost unbearable indigestion that feels like a vice crushing my chest & spine.

Will I loose bacon & ham too eventually? Is the alpha gal sugar in milk & cheese too or is it just in the meat?

I am new to this...had anaphylactic experience and significant hives 4 weeks ago 6 hrs after eating a small sausage of pork and beef and turkey...the alpha gal tests are positive for mammalian meats...I am so new to this, now nervous about dairy and waiting to be cleared for poultry. I am living on veggies, fish and beans trying to limit bread... I have been exposed to ticks, but not sure what type, although most significant biter was last May...I am very nervous to try anything after E.R.experience with drugs and violent shaking due to adrenaline (epinephrine)...very scary.

Hello. I was just recently diagnosed with Alpha Gal after an allergic episode. My alpha gal results were apparently quite high. I had a tick bite this summer that caused a lymph node infection - I guess that was the source. Just curious - what are others alpha gal blood test levels? I know a positive is anything above 0.35. Anyone want to share?

My husband has this allergy too...(alpha gal). It started out a very slow process. 1st beef than pork, now milk and some cheese. It has been complete avoidance of these. But, there is something really crazy we have discovered. It works for him anyways. There is something in alcohol that counteracts the reaction! Beer...wine, w/e. He was drinking one night and was craving this meat loaf I was making and when we all went to sleep he ate 2 pieces of it and went to bed. No reaction, no upset stomach, no hives...NOTHING! Now that we have discovered this he has been able to eat these meats now as long as he drinks a 6 pack! I am happy for him because he wanted a burger and bacon and steak so badly!

Mine was 69.60

My husband has just spent a very miserable week back and forth to the doctors offices! Finally yesterday, we learned about Alpha Gal, and they are doing testing now to confirm. He began swelling in one eye, like a sinus infection (and he was just ending a cold so that was our first thought, of course), about a week ago. It stayed puffy for a few days, then on Monday, his whole face was swollen and looked like a very bad sunburn. Today was the first day he woke up without his eyes swollen shut! They had put him on a total of 6 different antihistamines, and did urine and blood samples.

We are still waiting for confirmation, but this does appear to be the culprit. We were told there have been 20 or more confirmed cases within a 20 mile radius of our home, and our University has been doing research on this for a few years now. They said you don't even have to get bitten by the tick yourself, but the tick can just bite a cow or a pig and then it's transferred through the meat somehow. (Still learning all this stuff, so if I'm saying something wrong, forgive me.)

He was told to not only avoid red meat, but also all dairy- milk, cheese, butter, etc, until we get this all under control. We may be able to test back in with the dairy later, but it's too soon to tell. He's still very red, and now his "sunburn" is peeling dreadfully.

I'd appreciate any advice, warnings, etc, on how to deal with this life-change for us. I'm a country cook, so if it ain't smothered in butter then it's in gravy! This will be a hard adjustment for both of us.

Hi every one,

I am French and it's my first post on the forum, so nice to meet you!


I will not explain my experience about my alphagal, I just have a suggestion.

As you know, they find a link with ticks and this allergie. But they don't explain why the alphagal is not affect all contry in the world.

I have a gene of a rare disease named ataxie de friedreich. many poeple are just carrier of this gene like me, but only some of them know it cause of a proche relative personne has contracted the disease.

Why I link that with the alphagal? The ataxie de friedreich don't touch the asian (100% asian).

Look at the numbers I fond on the net:

In 2015, more than 5000 individuals are reached(affected) in the United States, more than 1400 in Australia (among which 70 % near the beaches(ranges) of Sydney), 4 in Central America, 68 in Europe (who(which) 14 cases in France in 2012) and more than 2 in Asia. It is however difficult to find studies or precise polls(soundings) concerning this disease because individuals' large number does not consider her(it) as serious.

So I ve got a feeling that could be link.

If some one of you have a parent who have the ataxie de friedreich, please, tell it to your allergist !

It may help us, or not !

With kind regarding,

thank you for reading

Basile Sanséau